I recently came across a simple & beautiful desktop client for WhatsApp Web called Whatsie. Whatsie allows you to chat without distractions. Not affiliated with WhatsApp or Facebook. This is NOT an official product. Whatsie is still in beta, so some features might not work properly. Features Themes & Mini Mode Native Notifications (with reply on OS X) Spell Checker & Auto Correct Keyboard Shortcuts Launch on OS startup Automatic Updates Whatsie Beta Changelogs Improve the ordering of menu items (Linux, Windows).

Skype 4.3 for Linux was released a few years back and there had not been any further updates. This tutorial is primarily focused on showing those that are currently running Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 15.10, Ubuntu 15.04 on how to install Skype for Linux on their machine. Quick Highlight of Skype 4.3 An updated UI Our new cloud-based Group Chat experience More reliable file transfer support when using multiple devices at once Greater accessibility by blind and visually impaired users PulseAudio 3.

WeeChat 1.4 which was released early in January, is a fast, light and extensible chat client, released under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3. It was written from scratch, and is actively developed. WeeChat has a text interface and runs on many operating systems, such as Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Unix, GNU Hurd, Mac OS X, Windows (cygwin). WeeChat 1.4 Changelog New features core: add a parent name in options, display inherited values if null in /set output, add option weechat.

Spark IM 2.7.6 recently released, is an Open Source, cross-platform IM client optimized for businesses and organizations. It features built-in support for group chat, telephony integration, and strong security. It also offers a great end-user experience with features like in-line spell checking, group chat room bookmarks, and tabbed conversations. In this release more patches went into fixing Mac OS X version (issues with Preferences, File transfer, etc.). Also as part of fixing issues on Mac we have applied an experimental version of Libjitsi patch by cstux (Voice Chat module).

Telegram Desktop 0.9.28 recently released, is an open-source and cross platform Telegram client for Linux. “Telegram” is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security, it’s superfast, simple and free. You can use Telegram on all your devices at the same time — your messages sync seamlessly across any of your phones, tablets or computers. Telegram Desktop from 0.9.27 changelog: Edit your messages in channels and supergroups Share links to specific posts in channels via the post context menu Add admin signatures to messages in channels Send silent messages in channels that will not notify members, useful for non-urgent or late night posting Edit your messages in channels and supergroups Share links to specific posts in channels via the post context menu Add admin signatures to messages in channels Send silent messages in channels that will not notify members, useful for non-urgent or late night posting Install Telegram Desktop 0.

Corebird 1.2 recently released, is an open-source, modern, easy and fun Twitter client developed in GTK 3.12, and it comes with all the main twitter features, which includes: Tweets Streaming, Favorites, Lists, Filters, Integrated Search, Mentions/Notifications, among others. Corebird 1.2 changelog Inline media and avatars are no longer cached on disk Videos now indicate download progress showing a preview thumbnail with a circular progress overlay We download higher-resolution avatars on HiDPI displays now The build system usage has seen a major refactoring an cleanup, thanks to Rico Tzschichholz The sidebar is now at the top and dark Favorites now us a heart icon Sending tweets is now cancellable (e.

Pidgin 2.10.12 recently released, is a chat program which lets you log into accounts on multiple chat networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on MSN, talking to a friend on Google Talk, and sitting in a Yahoo chat room all at the same time. Pidgin runs on Windows, Linux, and other UNIX operating systems, and it’s compatible with the following chat networks out of the box: AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!

Skype 7.16 for Windows App had just been released and this latest release comes with several improvements to how you share. This release is more focused on your sharing experience with an introduction of a new media toolbar which allows you to qickly share photos, files etc. Skype 7.16 Update: Media toolbar Sharing shouldn’t take too many clicks – as such we’ve released a new toolbar which you can use to quickly share photos, files, video messages, contacts and emoticons.

GroupMe for Windows 10 Mobile recently launched by Microsoft was rewritten completely from the ground up for Windows 10 devices . For those who may not know, GroupMe was acquired by Microsoft several years ago, and the texting application has since existed on all the three major platforms for a while now. The texting app had always been managed by Skype Team, and this latest release was specifically designed for Windows 10 mobile users since many of the updates where delivered on Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

Spark IM 2.7.3 Instant Messaging client recently released, is an Open Source, cross-platform IM client optimized for businesses and organizations. It features built-in support for group chat, telephony integration, and strong security. This release contains minor fixes and features. Such as an updated build script to support newest versions of IzPack, Ant and Java. Various places in the interface have been fixed to use translations instead of default Yes and No options.

Telegram Desktop 0.8.54 recently released, is an open-source and cross platform Telegram client for Linux. “Telegram” is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security, it’s superfast, simple and free. You can use Telegram on all your devices at the same time — your messages sync seamlessly across any of your phones, tablets or computers. Changelog since Telegram Desktop 0.8.48 Preview when sending links to GIF animations and PDF files Full date and time shown when mouse over message timestamp Include muted chats in unread count in Settings Shared links overview and search in shared media Bug fixes and other minor improvements Block users from their profile page Added support for Windows toast notifications Fixed input methods on Linux (Fcitx and IBus) Bug fixes in Windows notifications Fixed input methods on Linux (Fcitx and IBus) Block users from user profile Ask support team a question from Settings Windows toast notifications support added Install Telegram Desktop 0.

Smuxi 1.0 recently release took 10 yrs before this could be released. Smuxi is an open-source, powerful, flexible, and user-friendly chat client created by Mirco Bauer and developed by other contributors. Inspired by the combination of screen and irssi, Smuxi has a detachable server (or like a “normal” client) that stays connected when you aren’t, and can allow multiple Smuxi frontends (like the GNOME frontend, or STFL text-based frontend) to be connected and in sync.

Spark IM 2.7.1 recently released, is an Open Source, cross-platform IM client optimized for businesses and organizations. It features built-in support for group chat, telephony integration, and strong security. It also offers a great end-user experience with features like in-line spell checking, group chat room bookmarks, and tabbed conversations. Spark IM 2.7.1 changelog Printing conversation margin cuts off characters from lines that wrap is online at message does not always show in chat room After receiving XML data as a message Spark stops displaying history Buzz and stale settings overlap in the Preferences window Update French translation Show JID as contact name if instead an empty string would have been shown Default resource should be “Spark” without a version number Update Lithuanian translation Fix loading of Spellchecker’s IgnoreUppercase setting Add an option to disable graying out and italic for idle contacts Option to use hostname as a resource Update bundled JRE with the latest version This release is bundled with the latest and last Java 7 update (7u80).

Corebird 1.0 recently released, is an open-source, modern, easy and fun Twitter client developed in GTK 3.12, and it comes with all the main twitter features, which includes: Tweets Streaming, Favorites, Lists, Filters, Integrated Search, Mentions/Notifications, among others. Corebird 1.0 changelog All dialogs now use client-side decorations if the environment dictates it, otherwise they fall back to server-side decorations (compose dialog is excluded). Many layout updates The compose window now allows for up to 4 pictures to be uploaded.

Messenger for Desktop is an unofficial beautiful desktop client for Facebook Messenger that brings the messenger.com app to your desktop. It works by embedding the official website, so the functionality is identical. Chat without being distracted by your feed or notifications. Messenger for Desktop Features Chat with your friends, or groups of friends Snap photos and shoot videos then send the photos, videos and other files to friends Make HD voice and video calls anywhere in the world Choose and send from thousands of awesome stickers Know when people have seen your texts Record voice messages Notifications badge in the dock/taskbar for OS X and Windows Native notifications on OS X, provided by Chrome for Windows and Linux Install Facebook Messenger for Desktop on Ubuntu OS 32bit OS sudo apt-get install gdebi wget https://github.

Telegram Desktop 0.8.1 recently released, is an open-source and cross platform Telegram client for Linux. “Telegram” is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security, it’s superfast, simple and free. You can use Telegram on all your devices at the same time — your messages sync seamlessly across any of your phones, tablets or computers. With Telegram, you can send messages, photos, videos and files of any type (doc, zip,mp3, etc) to people who are in your phone contacts and have Telegram.

Kadu 2.1 recently released, is a user-friendly, adware free, fast, stable and flexible open source Gadu-Gadu and Jabber/XMPP protocol Instant Messenger client for Linux, BSD, Mac OS X and Windows. Kadu 2 is second version released with new versioning scheme. In this version Qt libraries have been updated from 4.x series to 5.x. New dependency injection library – Injeqt – is used in core and plugin. A lot of bugs has been fixed.

Telegram Desktop is an open-source and cross platform Telegram client for Linux. “Telegram” is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security, it’s superfast, simple and free. You can use Telegram on all your devices at the same time — your messages sync seamlessly across any of your phones, tablets or computers. With Telegram, you can send messages, photos, videos and files of any type (doc, zip, mp3, etc) to people who are in your phone contacts and have Telegram.

Pidgin 2.10.10 recently released, is a chat program which lets you log into accounts on multiple chat networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on MSN, talking to a friend on Google Talk, and sitting in a Yahoo chat room all at the same time. Pidgin runs on Windows, Linux, and other UNIX operating systems, and it’s compatible with the following chat networks out of the box: AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!

TeamTalk 5 is a freeware conferencing system which allows multiple users to participate in audio and video conversations on the Internet or colleagues to chat or conference in a local area network. The TeamTalk 5 install file includes both client and server application. Special client application included with accessibility features for visually impaired. Essentially, it is a web conferencing tool that lets a group of people communicate with each other using both video & audio all in real time via a microphone and a web cam.

Snakefire is an open source online real time chat client for Campfire. Snakefire is the perfect way to use Campfire in your desktop. It allows you to set up alerts that will notify you when certain messages arrive. You can see what was said since you left, upload anything quickly and easily (drag and drop). Install Snakefire – Ubuntu, Linux Mint sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rael-gc/snakefire sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install snakefire Install Snakefire – KDE sudo apt-get install snakefire-kde Remove Smakefire sudo apt-get remove snakefire sudo apt-get remove snakefire-kde To use it, register at Campfire for a 30-day free trial and setup your connection